#bergen_county

Connor cheers along with the others, waving a bit of broken lance like a flag!

Aiden claps for the victor. “That was well done.” He admits. “And good sportsmanship as well.”

Nadeen looks proud "Dame Dagmar is the purest knight I know. An exampler, or at least, certainly on that path"

This after she cheered!

And then the next round.. as the lancers are thinned

Brekke goes serious again...and then looks to Frank in the stands.

And now it is Brekke's Turn, AND the Doomwind! But they do not face each other, yet

Dagmar watches, yes, but she also tends to Star - water and walking to cool down, checking for any faults with the tack, checking hooves...

Brekke mounts up and enters the list.

“My turn!” He takes his duty seriously!

And Baron Kealan of Teaneck comes out and shakes his head. Brekke can tell what he's thinking. Something akin to what Dame Kerri thinks That Man at Caer Falken enjoys this. I just KNOW it.

Seated atop Stormwake, armored and helmeted, she still seems to give a brief chuckle, and rides out onto the field without lance to meet Baron Kealan before they joust...if he will ride out to meet her as well.

He does "I think the Count wants to get the crops fertile early this year starting us off like this" He offers his hand "As always an honor"

Brekke reaches to clasp his hand. "As ever, Baron. I would not consider this a foregone conclusion yet." A respectful nod, and then she turns back to fetch her lance.

"Careful, Doomwind is a beast. I almost feel like I brought in a ringer" A grin and he rides away to get his own

And the Baron is announced by his herald!

Folks cheer, most folks want the Baron to be tossed into the air, but they consider him something of a good luck charm and so there you go

And Then Siv looks at her mother, smiles, and whispers "I suppose you don't want me going overboard on this?"

Nadeen explains to Aiden "Amusingly, the Baron of Teaneck has been unhorsed manytimes by the Chieftain despite being quite decent at the joust. every year he seems to end up on his rear with her and her alone. Folks now take it as a sign of a promising spring to come"

Brekke looks down at Siv. "My daughter...enjoy yourself."

"Du er den beste, mor" Siv says then takes her turn

“Portents have power, be it of their own, of that of those who follow them.” Nodding as he watches. “It would be gauche to cheer against the land itself.”

“Has he been unhorsed, or unmanned? Perhaps Teaneck takes a dive for the crowd.” Calanthe observes.

"You have heard her called the Grimhanded one! You have heard her called the right arm of the Gryphon! You know her as the Baroness of Rivervale! She has earned the honorific Shacklebreaker time and time again! Baroness, Chieftain, Storm! A true talon of the falcon, Dragonslayer, Raider, Captain of the Kestrel! Cheer with me now to welcome the return of your legend, your heroine! Chieftain Brekke Shacklebreaker of Rivervale!"

Nadeen looks at Calanthe "If he did less than his best he'd get far worse than an unhorsing from the Chieftain"

A patient shaking of her head, and she raises a silver fist to acknowledge the crowd.

And the crowd goes ape!

Piper surprises herself with how loud she cheers!

In the stands, Sylvi sits next to Colton and cheers loudly, just as she did for Dagmar!

And the flags drop!

Stormwake has been pawing the soil, eager to begin, and when Brekke lowers her visor and signals him on, he LEAPS toward the opponent! His mighty hooves rumble like thunder! She levels her lance and leans in....

And the Baron Kealan moves forward, and somehow, piviots.. .even as Brekke twists just a bit wrongly. Instead of sending him flying, it SKIFFS off... but the Baron's lance on the other hand catches her square and lifts just enough to nearnly unhorse Brekke!

Piper is aghast, hands flying to her mouth. “Are they okay?!”

Gasp!

She reels in her seat, barely keeping her seat at all!

"Oh fuck 2020" Dirk blurts

Siv's jaw drops

Stormwake knows what he's about, and comes to a quick stop at the end of the run and lets her get upright and settled before returning to her side for the next run. As they pass she says to Kealan, "Well struck." If her pride is wounded, it doesn't show behind the visor.

Even the Ailil congregation is on the edge of their seats! From up in the nosebleed seats, “BLOOD N GUTS! If they get knocked down can we eat the horses?!” A redcap enjoys her first joust!

"Surprised even myself" The Baron says as they go for hteir next pass

Connor runs up to hand Brekke a fresh lance before Siv can get there. “You can do it, Stormy!” He says, eyes on the Chief.

Siv helps "thanks Connor" Recovering her shock

She accepts the lance from Connor and waits for the flag again, a glance to Frank in the stands that he might feel more than see...and then at the flag she urges Stormwake to an even faster charge than before. Lance set, she braces like a rock....

The Scathach lunges forward his own steed, a Dapple who is determined to show Stormwake she's not afraid of HIM ,clashes with her.. and both break lance!

It's two to one.. in favor of Teaneck!

Siv this time gets the next lance though is happy to have pooka help

"C'mon!" Oh, Dagmar is watching NOW.

Star whinnies and stomps from her stall. HER Stallion cannot be a loser!

Doomwind, who obliterated and unhorsed her foe in the first pass, observes , evaluating.

As they pass on the return, Brekke says to Kealan, "I will give you a good run yet, Teaneck."

Calanthe is now interested! No dummy fall this, it promises a good end. Aiden is also intent, commenting to Nadeen on facets of the mounts.